NAMBIA

Today Namibia is a peaceful country which is economically prosperous as a result of its productive mining, fishing, tourism and agricultural industries. Essentially a desert country, Namibia offers contrasting landscapes. The desolate Namib Desert is said to be the oldest in the world, with its high dunes and awe-inspiring sense of space.
The central plateau, with its thorn bush savannah and rugged mountains, rising abruptly from the plains, gives way to the majestic Fish river Canyon in the south. In the north of the country, landscapes range from dense bush and open plains of the great Etosha Pan, to woodland savannah and lush vegetation. The Etosha national park, the third largest in Africa, owes its unique landscape to the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow depression of approximately 5 000km². A series of waterholes along the southern edge of the pan guarantee rewarding and often spectacular game viewing. Germanic influence can still be found in the country's good road infrastructure, well-equipped rest camps throughout the country and most cities' architecture. The perfect choice for nature lovers and amateur photographers alike.
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• What to See

Namib Desert

The Namib Desert, believed to be the oldest desert in the world, is extremely impressive. Visit Namib Naukluft Park, the fourth-largest conservation area in the world, where oryx stroll over apricot-, ochre- and fawn-coloured dunes tufted with grasses.

Waterberg Plateau Park

The 406 sq km Waterberg Plateau Park was proclaimed for the purpose of breeding and maintaining populations of rare and endangered animals. It contains large antelope – roan (Hippotragus equinus), sable (H. niger) and tsessebe (Damaliseus lunatus) – as well as African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), introduced from the north-east where they normally occur. Square-lipped or white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), reintroduced from South Africa and the only such population in Namibia, are also present. Chacma baboon are numerous and vocal.

Daan Viljoen

Daan Viljoen is the nearest game park to Windhoek. As a small park – only 40 sq km – it contains little game, but wildlife is varied. With patience it is possible to see steenbok, springbok, gemsbok, kudu, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), eland and mountain zebra, as well as baboon. Bird species exceed 200 in number. As no dangerous predators are present, visitors are free to explore on foot.

Etosha National Park

The place to go for wildlife is the 22 270 sq km Etosha National Park with no fewer than 114 species of mammal and 340 species of bird. For the most part it consists of open, flat country where animals are easy to see, especially in the dry season when they congregate in the vicinity of permanent water-holes. The park is half the size of Switzerland. Its central feature is a system of salt-pans, the largest called Etosha, with dwarf shrubs on the edge and open grasslands beyond. Etosha is one of the great game reserves of Africa. The name translates as Great White Place of Dry Water, which describes the barren depression in the heart of the park.